Family and friends remember woman killed in Murrysville shooting

Despite the rain and cold weather Wednesday, dozens of people turned out to honor Gina Llewellyn at a Ford City camping ground where she spent so many years of her life.

"My mother is watching over us. She's helping us get through this," said Llewellyn's son, Dominic.

Dominic Llewellyn can't explain his mother’s murder, but he knows the large gathering at her favorite outdoor park -- Crooked Creek Horse Park -- is a testament to her memory.

"It could’ve been hailing out here, or tornadoes out here, and I guarantee these people still would’ve been out here,” he said Dominic.

Murrysville police say Llewellyn and her daughter, Lynall, accompanied a woman on Saturday evening who had been lured to East Suburban Animal Hospital by the woman's husband, 21-year-old Michael Lunsford Jr., with a fake story about her dog being injured. Lunsford shot Gina Llewellyn to death and wounded Lynall Llewellyn, then killed himself, police said.

"Things like this are unexpected and uncalled for, and it’s a shame. It really is,” said Dominic Llewellyn, who appeared understandably shaken, but very strong and composed as he addressed the crowd.

“It hits people in different stages. It hit me pretty bad tonight,” said cousin Alexis Reighard.

At the candlelight vigil, Gina’s favorite music was played and Lynall made a video appearance from the hospital, showing her the strong support for the grieving family.

"I know she’s in a better place right now and I’m happy how many people turned out tonight,” said McKenzie, a cousin.----------------------------------

Previous story:An Allegheny Township woman and her daughter were shot as part of a murder-suicide after getting caught up in a fake story about an injured pet that was intended to lure the killer's wife to the crime scene, police said.

Michael Lunsford, Jr., 21, shot Gina Llewellyn, 50, before turning the gun on himself at about 7:30 p.m. Saturday, according to the Westmoreland County Coroner's Office. The victims were found in the parking lot of the Cozy Inn Bar and Restaurant, which is located just off Route 22 and was closed at the time.

Llewellyn's daughter, Lynall, was also shot. She was flown to a Pittsburgh hospital for surgery and was last reported to be in critical condition.

Police Chief Tom Seefeld said Lunsford called his wife, Ashley McHugh, to tell her that her dog had been shot and she should meet him at the East Suburban Animal Hospital, across the street from the bar.

Police said the wife arrived in a car with four other people -- Gina Llewellyn, Lynall Llewellyn, Gina's husband and Lynall's father, and an 11-year-old niece.

According to the Llewellyn family, Lunsford refused to get out of his truck until Gina Llewellyn started trying to get his wife to leave. Then, Lunsford stepped out and opened fire, killing Gina Llewellyn and injuring her daughter.

Seefeld said Lunsford had in his pocket a suicide note that gave no indication of any plans to hurt his wife. He said he couldn't speculate as to why Lunsford shot the other women and not McHugh. "That's the thing: you can't get into the mind, especially when the person's deceased, can't really. We try to piece things together and we try not to speculate, try to keep that all in check. That is correct. We may never really know," Seefeld said.

Seefeld also said there were only three rounds inside the 30-30 rifle, all of which were used in the shooting. "A check of the truck showed no other ammo, so I believe it tends to be a fortunate situation in a way that perhaps if he would have had more ammo, things would have been worse," Seefeld said during a news conference Monday.

"Murrysville is a great area," said a stunned neighbor, who declined to give his name. "This doesn't happen here. It's strange. It's an oddity."

People who know Lunsford told Channel 4 Action News that he had recently been honorably discharged from the military due to a foot injury and was working as a security guard before the shooting. They'd seen no problems between him and his wife.

Seefeld said Lunsford got married in October and had a rocky marriage, in which there were some indications of being obsessive and controlling of his wife, although McHugh's family said they didn't see such behavior. About three weeks earlier, there was a domestic situation with an alleged assault on the wife that was not reported to police, Seefeld said.

The Lunsford, Lewellyn and McHugh families all declined comment Monday.

Photos: Family says Murrysville victims lured into trap

Photos: Family says Murrysville victims lured into trap

An Allegheny Township woman and her daughter were shot as part of a murder-suicide after getting caught up in a fake story about an injured pet that was intended to lure the killer's wife to the crime scene, police said.

Michael Lunsford, Jr., 21, shot Gina Llewellyn, 50, before turning the gun on himself at about 7:30 p.m. Saturday, according to the Westmoreland County Coroner's Office.

The victims were found in the parking lot of the Cozy Inn Bar and Restaurant, which is located just off Route 22 and was closed at the time.

Llewellyn's daughter, Lynall, was also shot. She was flown to a Pittsburgh hospital for surgery and was last reported to be in critical condition.

Police Chief Tom Seefeld said Lunsford called his wife to tell her that her dog had been shot and she should meet him at the East Suburban Animal Hospital, across the street from the bar.

Police said the wife arrived in a car with four other people -- Gina Llewellyn, Lynall Llewellyn, Gina's husband and Lynall's father, and an 11-year-old niece.

According to the Llewellyn family, Lunsford refused to get out of his truck until Gina Llewellyn started trying to get his wife to leave. Then, Lunsford stepped out and opened fire, killing Gina Llewellyn and injuring her daughter.

Seefeld said Lunsford had in his pocket a suicide note that gave no indication of any plans to hurt his wife. He said he couldn't speculate as to why Lunsford shot the other women and not her.

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